Coating machine for edible products



Sept. "8, 1953 G. G. OLDHA'M 2,651,286.

coAT'ING MACHINE FOR EDIBLE PRODUCTS Filed Aug. 12, 1949 2 sheets-sheet 1 N INVENToR.

Patented Sept. 8, 1953 COATIN G MACHINE FOR EDIBLE PRODUCTS Gordon G. Oldham, Leesburg, Fla., assignor to American Machinery Corporation,

Orlando,

Fla a corporation of FloridaI Application August 12, 1949, Serial No. 109,970

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for applying liquid materials to the surfaces rof fruits, vegetables or other products.

Heretofore fruits, vegetables or the like have been conveyed by an endless conveyor of the roller type through a station where the fruits and vegetables have been given a surface coating of liquid material, as they have been moved through the station by the conveyor, and then conveyed by the conveyor to a discharge point where they are discharged from the conveyor. During the said conveying of the fruits or vegetables through the treating station and to the discharge point, the rollers of the conveyor have been caused to rotate and, as a consequence, the fruit or vegetables on the conveyor have been rotated and, thus, their entire surfaces are exposed to the treating device at the treating station so that the treating liquid material reaches all points on their surfaces. However, such rota- .tion of the rollers and the constant turning of the fruits and vegetables thereon between the treating station and the discharge end of the .conveyor retards the free dripping of excess liquid material from the fruits and vegetables and, if a settable emulsion, such as a wax emulsion, has been applied to the surfaces of the fruits and vegetables at the treating station, this turning of the fruits and vegetables on the rollers between the treating station and the discharge end of the conveyor retards the setting of the applied settable material. As a result the coating on the surface of such fruits and vegetables is not sufficiently dry or has set to a degree desirable for the further handling of the fruits and vegetables when discharged from said conveyor, as upon another conveyor or surface; and the coating becomes unduly scuffed or marred over wide areas, due to such discharge or transfer, detrimental to good shrinkage or mold control and presents an undesirable appearance on fruit, such as oranges, instead of a smooth, continuous encasing film.

Accordingly, a principal object of this invention is, broadly, to provide an apparatus having a roller conveyor whereby fruits and vegetables and other products, to which a liquid has been applied, may be moved for a distance on said roller conveyor through a treating station without the fruits and vegetables turning on the conveyor to facilitate the dripping of excess liquid and/or to hasten the settingof emulsion on their surfaces while the fruits and vegetables are carried by the conveyor.

,Another object of this invention is to provideY an apparatus of the character referred to and which is equipped with simple and effective means for controlling the rotation and the non-rotation of the rollers on the conveyor at the times and during the movements stated above.

A further object of this invention is to provide a method of treating the surfaces of fruits and vegetables and the like with liquid materials, including the application of liquid materials to the surfaces of the fruits, vegetables or other products and the removal of excess liquid and the setting of emulsions on the surfaces of the fruits, vegetables or other products, and which method is simple and inexpensive to carry out.

A stlil further object of the invention is the provision of a simple machine which is operated to turn the fruits and vegetables as liquid material is being applied to their surfaces and to hold the fruits and vegetables at rest on the conveyor while they are then carried farther through the machine to a point of discharge.

Other objects of this invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In accordance with this invention I employ an arrangement whereby the rollers of a roller-conveyor-upon which the fruits, vegetables or the like (Whether of a substantially spherical rollable shape or of a non-rollable irregular shape) are carried in the valleys between the rollers and are turned by the rotating rollers as theyare moved through the machineare caused not to rotate for some distance or may be intermittently rotated and non-rotated, according to the product treated, so that the products will be stationary on the rollers for that distance in order that excess liquid material can drip freely from the products and, if settable liquid material is used such as wax emulsion, it may set or start its initial drying on the surfaces of the products before leaving the conveyor, it being understood the said roller conveyor is used in association with a device for applying liquid material tothe surfaces of fruit, vegetables or like products on the conveyor, which device may be separate from the conveyor machine of the invention or may overlie the receiving end thereof.

The invention accordinglyconsists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will be more V clearly pointed out hereinafter and the scope of the application of which will Vbe pointed out in the claims that follow.

In order that a clearer understanding `of this invention may be had attention is hereby directed to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application and illustrating certain possible embodiments of this invention, and in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of one form of an apparatus embodying this invention and taken substantially on line I-I of Figurez? Figur ijs a sectional viewthrough an upper portion of the apparatus, and is taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; U

Figure 3 is a sectional View through the upper flight of the conveyor at adifferent place; and is taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 1; t

Figure 4 is a top plan view cfa fifgrneiit ofthe upper flight showing a portion 'of one of the roller engaging members which cause the conveyor r'oll'' erstorotate;

Figure 5 is a plan view of one of the chain links on which the rollers are journaled, and including a portion of a roller shown in section; and

Figure 6 isa fragmentary view similar to Figure i showing a variation of 4a rllr conveyor machine wherein the roller contacting and rotating ineinbers 'extend throughoiitgth' lli'achihe and the rollers are raise'd out of Yctmtact therewith for a distance. y

:Similar reference characters refer to similar partis throughout th several views of the drawmgs Referring to the drawiii`gs-, there is 'framework 'I0 which supports an endlssroller conveyor well known in the art. The conveyor may comprise a a-rr 'of 'endless sprocket "chains il and 12in which are journald rollers 1 3, preferably wooden,` which extend between the chains. The'ch'aih's are composed of links 'I4 which are Vfori'rieol with journal pin-'s 'I5 extending sidewi'selth'erefromand spacing links I6 between the'links I4. Each link is Vformed with a hook I1 whereby it may bvpivotally conneteu witn'a'n adjacent link A live-'roller con'- veyor of this typ is 'well i'n the art and is a 'common vco'rnr'r'fereial litem 'varying in construcnon a" "ordine 'te the uesjignjf manufacture. Conseq ently, "any live-roller 'conveyor of vthe 'type iidicated'may be employed.P y l E'Secured to the framework IQ 'at one fend are baekts 'als whiohrotatabiy support 'a shaft i9 carrying two sprockets 'which en'g'ag'e bthe links f tue tivo endess cuairis 'll 'and I2 at onefen. The shaft is driven by 'any suitable means, indicated general-1y at 21, to 'drive the sprockets 2n and th 'chains II 'and I2. Brackets 22 secured to the framework at tlieopposite `end 'rotatably support `shaft 23 carrying sprockets V24 which enigz'getlie linksof 'tlietivo 'chains at their other ends. The sha-ft 23 v'pefe'rably is at afhigher elevation than 'shaft l"9 so 'that the upper flight of th'e conveyor will be on an incline.

The shaft i9 is 'driven in the direction which will l`cause the conveyor to 'travel from sprockets 20 to 'sprockets 2'4; that is, the upper flight of the cc'nveyorfwill 'travel upwardly. vThe Vportion of the conveyor tdward the sprockets 20 is consi'dered the intake or oncoming fend 'of the conveyor Aand thefopposite end portion of the con'- veyor is considered the'discharge end.

The fjournal pins .I5 'of the llinks 'I`4are 'entered in'to metal'bushings2Eretainedin bores 26 formed in thexend's of the Arollers at the'center so that the rollers are.o'ournalled onthese link pins 'and may rotate thereon.

Over the upper flight of 'the conveyor toward its 'intake vend'may be supported by uanysuitalole means,not shown, "a device for applying liquid material, suchV as vwaterY `or 'liquid Waxfemulsionor the like, to products, for instance fruits, Vegetables or the like, as they are carried past the device by the conveyor, said device being represented by spray nozzle 2l and spray hood 28. This is particularly useful in the treatment of oranges and certain other fruits and vegetables. In cases where the'treating liquidlhasbeenapplied by some other device; the device 21:28 is not used and the product may be 4deliveri'd directly to the rollers I3. Also in some cases it is desirable to rotate the product before bringing the rollers I3 to rest for allow al settable liguid to set.

At the intake end of the conveyor two members 29.; 'shown inthe form of inverted channel irons, areliouht'il on the framework I0 as by b'eiiig secured to cross frame pieces 30 and 3 I. As shown in Figs. V1 to 5, these members 29 extend from the vicinity of the sprockets 20 all the way under the spray hood 2K8 of the liquid applying device to a point approximately at (Fig. l) and are so positioned relatively to the upper flight of the conveyor rollers i3 that these rollers will rest on these members with such frictibnal engage'- inent therewith and, as the conveyor travels, the rollers I3 will be rolled 'as they travel along on th members 29 and by" their rotation will turn the products "which are being -carried on the rollers. By so turning the products, indicated at 32, as they are passed under the's'prayhood 28, the cov# 'erag'e 'of their entire surfaces with the sprayed liquid material is insured. The rotation produc."- ing members 29 are preferably 'angularly related to the roller axes to equalize thewear'on theroller surfaces, although they may be disposed substaii` tially parallel with thisJ sides of the framework 'i il and positioned unde'r the ends 'of the rollers I3.

Extending backwaidly from the discharge end of the conveyor in the vicinity vof the sprockets 24 to points, preferably, 'where the 'conveyor .passes from under the spray hood 28 (when -one Vis et' ploye'd), are two vhorizontally positioned track members 33 supported respectively on opposite sides vof the lframework 'It and each positioned to receive on its upper surface and to support 'slidirigly thereon one'of the 'chains I'I and I2 ina substantially straight line without contacting the rollers |23. However, should the members 29er?- ten'd to or well toward the 'discharge 'end of the machine, the track members. '3'i'are vertically 'offrset relative to the y'rn'euribers 2-9 "to raise the rollers I3 out of contact with the members -29 as shown in Fig. 6. nFig. ll5, the conveyor chains are designated I2', vthe conveyor rollers i3', the track members 33andtherollercontacting mr'nbe'rZ The 'arrangement is such that the rollers -13 will maintain vrolling engagement with rolle'i rotati'ng `oi 'contacting members 29 to v'cause the products, carried on the 'rollers to "turn thereon until the 'conveyor has carried the products through 'tlie 'effective range of the 'spray ievoe and, then, 'theoo'nt'ztct between 'the rollers 1313i i3 and the members 29 orio williease and, V1"'151- stead, thel'cha-ilis H and f2 "or chains 'I2' will pass Aonto 'and be su'poifted 'by *and slide on the chain supporting tracks '33 orcs" until -tneichains and the 'rollers supifoftecthereby arrive at 'the discharge ed'of the coivfy'offjsshown in 'Figure 1, 'or will be'agan brought-.o1- fepeatdiybrougnt into'contact with the monteren assnown infisure 6.

vris shown in Figuref', the track s' 'maybe in alpluia'lityof sp'aefsectionstb intermittently raise the conveyor rollers I3 frointliefmeinber 29'-, there being v"as*ni'an'y `"of "these sectioiis 33 as may be desired for a particular product, so as to allow intermittent rotation and non-rotation of the roller I3' through the conveyor machine which is desirable in treating some Vegetables. Hold-down guide rails 33a are positioned over the chains I 2' between the track sections 33 to lower' the same and hold the rollers in contact with the member 29 to effect rotation of the rollers I3' in their travel between the tracksection 33.

If desired, the lower night of the conveyor may be supported by track members 34 mounted on the framework I0 and adapted to receive and support on their track surfaces 35 the chains Il and I2, or instead the flight may be supported by bars 36 mounted on cross pieces 3l and 38 secured to the framework I0 and on which the rollers I3 ride and are supported; or by both the chain supporting tracks 34 and the roller supporting bars 30.

The operation of the apparatus should be apparent from the above. The conveyor is started in continuous operation and, with respect to Fig. 1, the products are fed upon the conveyor at its intake end and the applicator 21-28 started to dispense the liquid material and the conveyor carries the deposited products through the effective range of the spray device, during which travel the rollers of the conveyor rotate to keep the products turning thereon, and then the conveyor carries the products to the discharge end of the conveyor while the rollers are not rotating on the chains and the products are at'rest on the conveyor so that excess liquid is free to drip and liquid emulsion is free to set or to undergo initial hardening on the surfaces of the products. Should the applicator 21--28 not be used, the previous sprayed or coated products are delivered to the conveyor at its intake end and initially turned by the rollers and then the turning movement is discontinued When that portion of the conveyor engages and is supported by the tracks 33. 'I'he operation of the modification, in Fig. 6, is the same as in Fig. 1 except that the rollers I3' of the conveyor by reason of the several track sections 33 and the holddown guides 33a., intermittently rotate during the travel of the upper ight of the conveyor and, of course, the spray device 21-28 may and may not be employed therewith.

As many changes may be made in the above construction and as many diiferent embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the scope of this invention, it is to be understood that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

That which is claimed as new is:

1. In an apparatus for applying a coating to objects, the combination with a supporting Y frame, a traveling live-roller conveyor having side chain-like members, spaced means on said frame and over which said chain-like members are trained to provide a generally horizontal night-bed upon which said objects are received thereon at one end portion and discharged therefrom at its other end portion, means for driving said conveyor, a coating applicator positioned over said flight-bed at its receiving end portion and extending thereover for a distance to apply said coating to said objects, of elongated members carried by and substantially longitudinally of Said frame and disposed under and in contact with said rollers of the flight-bed for a distance forwardly from its receiving end and terminating said contact at a point substantially where said conveyor emerges from said applicator in its travel so as to rotate said rollers during their travel under said applicator and render them non-rotating therebeyond, and track means on the frame positioned under each of said chainlike members of said flight-bed for a distance extending beyond coating applicator toward the discharge end portion of said night-bed for supporting said bed while said rollers thereof are not rotating and while excess coating material is draining from said objects and said coating is setting or hardening on said objects prior to its discharge from said flight-bed.

2. The subject-matter of claim 1 characterized by said elongated members extending beyond the receiving end of said flight-bed toward the discharge end thereof for contact with said rollers; and by said track members being disposed on the frame at spaced intervals under each chain-like member of said flight-bed and being offset upwardly relative to said elongated members for supporting said rollers out of rolling contact therewith to discontinue rotation of said rollers and, hence, of said objects; and by holddown guide means extending between said intervals of track and overlying said chain-like members and positioned to maintain said rollers between said intervals of the track in contact with said elongated members, whereby said rollers spanning the intervals between the track may be rotated during the travel of the flightbed.

GORDON G. O-LDI-IAM.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,414,674 Skinner May 2, 1922 1,468,804 Contant Sept. 25, 1923 2,070,980 Wyland Feb. 16, 1937 2,285,841 Sharma. June 9, 1942 

